Yingfeidaoyang

Chinese: 鹰飞倒仰
Pinyin: Yīng fēi dào yǎng
English: Upward flying eagle
Coordinates: 40°27'20"N 116°30'10"E

Jiankou Tianti is the western slope of a feature that comprises three mountains and is known as Yingfeidaoyang. Yingfeidaoyang can be translated variously as “eagle flies upside-down” or “upward flying eagle”. Some people say its name derives from the fact that it's higher than eagles fly so they have to fly up to get there. Others say it got its name because its contours resemble an eagle, and while I have heard of many places in China where mountain contours are said to resemble tigers, dragons, and more, I usually can't see it. But from Xizhazi, Yingfeidaoyang really does resemble an eagle with outstretched wings. The summit of Yingfeidaoyang is 954 meters (3130 feet) high. Before the central summit of Yingfeidaoyang, a Northern Qi Dynasty wall originally led to the left (southeast) while the Ming Dynasty wall continues to the right (north). But now it's nearly impossible to see the remains of the older wall from the main wall. It is possible to find and follow the older wall but this is very difficult. Continuing on the northern path of the main wall, you will go down for a while and then you are going up another mountain which is quite formidable.

Yingfeidaoyang

Yingfeidaoyang is the highest point in between Zhengbeilou and Jiuyanlou at the Jiankou Great Wall.

When you near the top of Yingfeidaoyang, the wall turns to the right and heads in a northward direction. There is a trail leading off to the left (southwest) which bypasses the very top of the mountain. You really must take this bypass and do not attempt to climb over the very top of Yingfeidaoyang. I probably don't need to give this advice as you will see for yourself how dangerous the last stretch up and down would be. The bypass just circumvents the very top of the mountain and rejoins the wall shortly thereafter. The trail is easy to follow and takes about ten minutes. It goes downhill for a significant distance before turning back up towards the wall on the other side of the peak.

Yingfeidaoyang viewed from Moyashike Great Wall to the west

Rejoining the wall after the Yingfeidaoyang summit and continuing, you will find another path to your right (east) that leads down to Xizhazi. If you continue up to the top of the next mountain, you will reach Beijingjie, or the Beijing Knot, where two major walls meet at the summit of a mountain 966 meters (3170 feet) high. The “inner” (southern) wall, to your left (west), goes to Moyashike and beyond, all the way across the Huairou province. This wall was built of brick and quarried stone block in the later part of the Ming Dynasty. The other branch of the wall leads to the north from here towards Jiumenkou, where the wall branches again with a minor branch going left (west) and the main branch going north. Beyond Jiuyanlou, the wall turns from brick to stone and is significantly older. This is the “outer” (northern) wall which eventually leads through Zhangjiakou.